Corn-cutter.



, Patented Apr.; Ism.,

conn CUTTER. .(Appxicucin med Nov. L7, 1900.;

(No Model.)

innen.

nrnivr ROBERT E. POINDEXTER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

CORN-CUTTER.

.SSPECEFCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 671,231, dated April2, 1901.

Application filed November 17, 1900. Serial No.. 36,872. lNo modeld Tomi wir/0711, t may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT E. PoINDnx- TER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and Slate ofIndiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCorn-Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

In the use of the corn-splitting machine illustrated in my Patent No.429,794, of June l0, 1890, and othersubsequent patents I find that thebest results are secu red when the butt ofthe ear is square, orapproximately so, which enables the point of the splitting-spear to morereadily enter at or near the center ot' said ear, with the consequentapparent advantage.

The object of my said invention is, therefore, to provide an improvedform of harvesting tool or cutter for cutting the ears from the stalk,whereby a square butt may be secured and the work conducted moreconveniently and expeditiously, as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed and claimed.

As is Well known, the splitting of the ear of corn is to facilitatemastication by stock to which it is fed and add to its value as a food.Experience has also taught that the inner husks may be added to the feedto considerable advantage, as they contain much nutriment and arerelished by stock when fed on the split corn. My improved corn harvesteror cutter is designed especially so that the ear may be severed from thestock by its use just within the coarse outsidehusks, but to leave theliner nutritious husks on the ear, in which condition it is put. intothe splittingmachine and prepared for feed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof,and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figurel is a perspective view illus trating the use of my invention; Fig. 2, aside elevation of the cutter, and Fig. 3 a sectional view on the dottedline 3 3 in Fig. 2.

Said cutter is composed of two parts A and B, pivoted together by apivot d.' The part A consists of a handle with an appropriatelyformedknife-blade secured'thereto, and the part B is formed at one end as ahandle and at its outer end as a jaw and is curved over in a formappropriate to partially embrace the butt ofthe ear.

It is also formed with a slot extending a sufficient length to permitthe free operation of the knife, which extends through said slot and ispivoted therein. The extreme outer end of said part is pointed and bentoutward somewhat, which formation is for the purpose of enabling thispart to be inserted under the outer husks, so thatthe cut will be madebeyond where they are joined to the lstalk. By this arrangement I amenabled to cut between the point where said outer husks are joined tothe stalk and the point where the inner husks are joined to the stalkand secure the advantages above mentioned. On each side of the knife abrace b extends outward from the front. side of the part B for aconsiderable distance for the purpose of supporting said knife andpreventing it from buckling under the strain of cutting, thus enabling amuch thinner knife to be used, which can be operated with less exertion,and thus render the operation less tiresome upon the hand. A springs,connected at each end to an appropriate ear ou each of the parts A andB, serves to normally hold the knife open and away from the jaw formedby the opposing part of B. A loop Z may be attached to the handle ofpart B, through which the fingers of the hand may pass, for the purposeof preventing the tool from being accidentally dropped.

By thense of this tool the desired form of the butt of the ear issecured for convenient manipulation in the operation of splitting, andit has also been found that the work can be more rapidly andconveniently done than by the usual method of breaking off the ears byhand.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what l claim as new, anddesire to se cure by L etters Patent, is-

l. A corn cutting or harvesting tool formed to be grasped and operatedby one hand to leave the other hand free to handle the corn, comprisinga knife with a handle adapted to be grasped by one part of the hand, anda jaw pivoted thereto to coact therewith, provided with a handle adaptedto be grasped by another part of the same hand, said knife passingthrough a slot in said jaw, said jaw being formed with a pointedoutturned end, and its central portion curved outwardly from the knife,whereby it is adapted to be IOO inserted under the outer husks oftheear, and then partially encircle said ear at its butt to support itagainst the action of said knife, substantially as set forth. l

2. A corn-cutter comprising a knife and jaw formed with appropriatehandles, the jaw being slotted an dlhe'knife passed through said slotand mounted on a pivot, and a brace b extending ont from the front edgeof the jaw part on each side of the knife, to support said knife underthe strain of operation, substantially as set forth.

3. A corncutter comprising the knife A formed with an appropriatehandle, the jaw part B, alsoformed with an appropriate handle and havinga slot in which said knife is 'spring for holding said parts normallyopen,

substantially Set forth.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, atIndianapolis, Indiana, this 13th day of November, A. D. 1900.

ROBERT E. POINDEXIER. [n 5.]

Witnesses:

FRANK G. RAIBLE, FRED C. GARDNER.

